Improved composition for filling shells



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEVI SHORT, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVED COMPOSITION FOR FILLING SHELLS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 38,424, dated May 5.1863.

To all -whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEVI SHORT, of the city of Philadelphia, in theState of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful compound orcomposition for combining with pro jectiles bomb-shells, rockets, andother missils to be projected from fire-arms, ordnance, and otherengines or war, to be used either in a liquid or solidified form, whichcomposition I designate as Shorts American Greek Fire, and 1 do herebydeclare that the followingis a full and exact description of the mode ofcompounding and mixing and using'the same, t0 Wit:

I take rorty pounds of saltpeter, seven pounds'of charcoal, six poundsof asphaltum, two pounds of antimony, seven pounds of sulphnr, and twogallons of naphtha. These ingredients, substantially in the proportionsde scribed, I thoroughly mix in a large wooden tank lined with copper,and when thoroughly mixed I allow the compound to stand for two or threedays to settle. A large amount ofsediment collects at the bottom of thetank, and the liquid rises above. Theliquid is then drawn off andcombined with any vegetable fibrous substance, the said fibrous materialto be fully saturated with the liquid. This is then packed in explosiveshells or projectiles and used as a destructive war-missile to burn anenemys ships, forts, &c. The sediment'which collects fatxthe bottom ofthe tank is taken in its plastic state and pressed into metallic casesof any convenient size-say three inchesin length and five-eighths of aninch in diameter, moreor less. This :makes a combustible missilet which,when ignited by the explosion of the projectile will burn with greatintensity. As many of these as maybe required are then put into andcombined with an explosiveshell or any form of explosive projectile foruse. \Vh-en the projectile explodes these missiles will take fire,eollodium being sprinkled over their open ends for this purpose, andwill dart out in every direction'with ten thousand fiery ton gnes,hissing and burning wherever they go. The fire is unquenchable, Waterwill not extinguish it. It consumes and burns wherever it strikes. Whenthrown into an enemys fortifications, forts, ships, or camps thesemissiles will consume everythingin their fiery course, sending death anddesolation into the enemys ranks.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to.

secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A combustiblecomposition formed of the above-named ingredients ortheir equivalents, substantially in the proportions and for the purposesherein set forth.

2. Metallicpellets ormissilesfilled with combustible matter, incombination and use with explosive projectiles, for the purposes andsubstantially as set forth.

LEVI SHORT. Witnesses:

H. N. TAFT, O. G. ABELL.

